5 Minutes with…#85 Derek Ouimet
By Jeff McConkey
#85 Derek Ouimet is from Carlisle, Ontario, and is currently traveling the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals with his parents and his brother, Travis. His results have been steadily improving and he had his best-ever finish at round 7 in Pleasant Valley in Truro, Nova Scotia. We grabbed him for a quick chat to learn a little more about the friendly Honda 450 rider.
#85 Derek Ouimet is having a great summer traveling with his parents and racing his younger brother, Travis|Bigwave photo
Direct Motocross: Hey Derek, how is it going?
Derek Ouimet: It’s going good, man, just came off my best career overall and I’m traveling the east coast riding dirt bikes with my family and friends. Doesn’t get much better than that!
For those who don’t know you, can yo tell us a little about yourself?
I’m from a small town of Carlisle, Ontario. When I’m not working with my family, I’m traveling somewhere or doing something moto. I grew up playing hockey, then I got a taste of dirt bikes and I’ve been hooked ever since.
You scored a super-impressive 13th in the 2nd moto at Pleasant Valley. How excited are you?
I’m super-stoked! I’ve been working hard the last 2 months on and off the bike and I’m happy to see my results improving. It’s a great feeling.
Is that your best moto finish to date?
Yup! I’m not used to running in the top 15, so I’m going to try and make it a habit (Laughs).
He headed into River Glade after coming off his best-ever performance in the MX1 class, a 13th in the second moto at Pleasant Valley|Bigwave photo
I think I bumped into you at every East Coast SX round, were you able to do any winter riding?
No, not this winter, going to watch supercross was the only training I got (Laughs). Normally, me and my brother would go down to Florida for a month or two before the season starts but we weren’t sure we were going race this year until Dewildt Honda helped us out with some bikes.
Coming into this season, and into the East Coast, what were your expectations?
Honestly, this year I had no pressure and all I wanted to do is come in and finish two 30-minute motos strong and consistent and ride the way I know I can.
The MX1 class is very stacked this season, is this where you think you belong?
I would like to think so. The top 10 are on a different level and then after that it’s a free for all and there is a bunch of us duking it out for the position.
You are sitting 22nd in points right now. Where would you like to be come RJ’s?
That doesn’t really matter to me because I’ve never been out west before to do all the rounds. I just take each race as its own and try and get a better national number than I did the year before (Laughs).
In the future, could we see yo do all 10 rounds?
My brother (Travis Ouimet) and I would love to. Drew Roberts always brings it up at the end of every year but we never pull the trigger. Who knows, maybe one year will put it together.
Derek with his buddy, Tyler Rayner, in staging at round 5 at Gopher Dunes|Bigwave photo
You are traveling the East rounds with your family, does that make your success that much sweeter?
Oh for sure. It’s the best having them here. To see them just as happy as me after a good moto is a great feeling. My dad not only wrenches the bikes for both us but they both also have to pit board for us. You should see what my mom writes sometimes (Laughs).
With your younger brother making the jump to the 450 class, does that make yo push that much harder not to get beat by little bro?
(Laughs) Big time! Nobody wants to get beat by their younger bro. The kid is just as fast as me though. If he could get a good start and stay on two wheels, we would be battling, probably giving my parents a heart attack but me and T would be having a blast just like we do when we practice together.
Do you and your brother Travis have any bets going, like if he beats you, you have to wash the bikes or anything like that?
No bets but we trade off jobs (Laughs). Like, I’ll wash or service his bike if he cleans the trailer and motor home or other way around. Sometimes we play rock, paper, scissors to see who has to unload the pick-up after practice (Laughs).
What are your plans for the rest of the season?
I’m going to finish the Nationals then race Walton and then after that I’m probably going to switch it up and go race some races in the States. We only live an hour from the Buffalo border so it’s perfect!
Well, thanks for your time Derek, who would you like to thank?
Well, first off I’d like to thank my mom and dad. I wouldn’t be doing any of this without them. My Grandma and Papa, my brother, my friends, LivFree, Tyler Rayner, 100%, Dewildt Honda for getting my brother and I bikes this year, Transway Systems and Direct Motocross!
Editor’s note: Unfortunately, after having such a great weekend at Pleasant Valley in Truro, NS, and finishing 17th in the first moto, Derek had a rather strange crash with #68 Taylor Ciampichini where they rolled off the track together in a ball on the first lap of the second moto at River Glade in Moncton, NB. Derek walked off the track but the result is a broken thumb that will keep him out of action for the rest of the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals season.
